Contact: Sherry Nicholson
Phone: 404-323-3923
Email: Sherry.Nicholson@redcross.org
March 3, 2020, Atlanta, GA – Red Cross volunteers, in partnership with Atlanta Fire Rescue and area supporters, will Sound the Alarm ‘block party-style,’ on Saturday, March 14th to promote home fire safety and community awareness on the city’s Westside. Atlanta Fire Station #16, 1048 Joseph E. Boone Blvd. NW, will serve as headquarters for the festivities, including free smoke alarm installations in the surrounding neighborhood, music, food, information and fun.
The day begins at 8:00 a.m. when volunteers meet at the fire station and team up to install free smoke alarms throughout the morning in area homes that need them. Experts agree that people have only about two minutes to escape a burning home and working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Residents are encouraged to open their doors to volunteers who will also offer fire safety tips and help families with home fire escape plans.
Between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., organizers invite Westside neighbors to drop by the fire station to learn more about a variety of services available to the community. Families can take part in Red Cross demonstrations on Youth Emergency Preparedness, CPR Training and a resiliency workshop for veterans. Music by radio celebrity and disc jockey Art Terrell and a lunchtime cookout are also planned.
Other guests expected to visit throughout the day include the Booker T. Washington High School Band, Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown and Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia’s Dr. Milford Greene.
Event sponsors and partners include: Georgia Power, Veritiv, Northside Hospital, Atlanta Fire Rescue Foundation, Quest Communities, The Mission Continues, Morehouse School of Medicine and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
“We’re grateful to Atlanta Fire Rescue and all the sponsors and partners who have come together in a spirit of community and support for Atlanta’s beloved Westside,” said Wendy Tabron, Red Cross spokesperson for the event. “This will be a fun, worthwhile experience for all who attend.”
For more information contact wendy.tabron@redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.